Photographic print treating apparatus



SePtl 1953 A. w. CAPs 2,650,527

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT TREATING `APPARATUS Filed Aug. 1s, 1951 2 sheets-sheet 1 l Byln Lv ATTORNEYS Sept. l, 1953 A. w. CAPs PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT TREATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 1s, 1951 2 sheefs-sheet 2 INVENTOR. f/ar W @aps ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. y1, 1953 PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT TREATIN G APPARATUS Arthur W. Caps, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Photostat Corporation, a corporation of Rhode Ilsland Application August 18, 1951, Serial No. 242,453

(Cl. S55-89) 11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a photographic print treating apparatus.

In photo copying documents and the like, the copy print after exposure is delivered in sheet form and picked up by a suitable conveyor to be carried through a developing bath, a rinsing bath, and thereafter deposited into a fixation or hypobath. It is desirable that the print be quickly submerged into the hypobath after passing through the developer. Ii the print is not submerged at once after leaving the developer, exposure to the air causes spots to form and the print is spoiled. It is further desirable to deposit prints face up in the hyp0bath in order that the same may be viewed for checking of the same prior to complete xation thereof.

One of the objects of the invention is to prol vide a iixation apparatus which will cause the print after being deposited into the bath to be quickly submerged therein.

`Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the xation bath so constructed and operable as to cause a suction action on the print deposited therein to quickly submerge the same.

Another object of the` invention is a circulation of the bath liquid from the bottom to the top of the bath container.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the fixation bath so constructed as to cause the prints to be deposited face up therein and quickly submerged.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the fixation bath so constructed as to provide for a pumping action of the bath liquid to circulate the same from top to bottom.

A more specic object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for a print treating bath so constructed that by relative movement of parts of the container for the treating bath a pumping action will be had for circulating the bath liquid.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of con-4 struction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken laterally through the apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the apparatus in a different position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3--3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof.

In carrying out myA invention, I provide two containers or tanks for the treating liquid and mount these one within the other in spaced relation and arranged so as to provide for a relative reciprocal movement therebetween, which Amovement may be conveniently provided by mounting one of the tanks so as to be oscillated in a single plane. The inner tank is preferably held stationary and receives the print to be treated. The inner tank is made of a much smaller size in the direction of the movement of the outer container so as to provide a space between the container in this dimension thereof a distance slightly greater than the distance of movement of the said outer container. At one limit of movement of the outer container, the adjacent sides of said containers at one side thereof in the direction of movement" will be at a minimum spacing while at the opposite side of the container the adjacent sides thereof will be at a maximum distance; thus, as the container is reciprocated the said spacing between the containers on opposite sides thereof will alternately increase and decrease from the minimum to the maximum distance, respectively. The other adjacent sides of the tanks are relatively closely spaced to each other and this spacing remains substantially constant. The inner tank is provided with oppositely disposed passagesthrough whichliquid iiows from the inner container into the outer container to fill the spacing therebetween. 'Ihese passages are controlled by simple valve mechanism normally moved by gravity to closed position and also moved to the open and closed position by the pressure of the moving bath liquid thereon, depending upon the relative direction of movement of the said liquid, the arrangement being such that the valve will be closed to a return flow from the outer container and opened for an outward flow of liquid from the inner container. In one direction of movement of the outer container, the liquid in the spacing between the containers will be displaced and moved upwardly along the adjacent walls of the containers to overflow into the inner container, while on the opposite side of the containers, the spacing between the adjacent walls will increase and by the iiow of liquid from the,

the inner container and causes a suction on a` print deposited on the surface of the bath, which quickly submerges the print for fixation to start` Thus, the relative movement 3 immediately over the entire print. VThus I am able to deposit prints for fixation face up in the bath without danger of exposure to air sufficient to develop spots therein.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, I designates generally an apparatus for treating photographic prints, more particularly a fixation bath, for a print. The apparatus I in the present instance is constructed to make it particularly adapted to be employed in connection with known cameras employed for copying documents and the like, and only so much of which is shown for a clear understanding of the invention.- 't may be here noted that after exposure the print is delivered in sheet form to be picked up by a chain conveyor having opposite stretches il which carry a pin bar I2 (Fig. 1) armed with spaced pins I3 on which one marginal edge of the print is impaled to be carried by the conveyor to be passed through a developing bath', a rinsing bath, and then carried to be deposited into the hypobathl for the iixation thereof.

The apparatus Iii includes an inner open tank I4, preferably fabricated of sheet metal and made of rectangular form providing opposite side walls I5, I5', end walls i6, and a bottom wall designated generally II (Fig. 2). This bottom wall I'I is depressed centrally and in a longitudinal direction and provides a well iiil having `opposite 2 walls I9, I9 which extend substantially at right angles to the bottom wall portions E3, 23. The

walls I9, I9 each have a similar opening 2i, 22",

respectively, which extend substantially the entire length of they said walls I9, I9. The upper marginal edge portions 22 of the walls i5, l5 are bent to extend inwardly and downwardly inclined to the horizontal. The walls I3 are eX- tended above the effective height of thewalls i5, I5' and each has a crossbar 23 attached to the upper marginal edge thereof as by means of screws 24. Each bar 23 is similar to the other and is of a length to extend substantially equal distances beyond the sides of the tank I4 and these extending end portions are eachV provided with a threaded opening 25.

L-shaped brackets 23 providing foot portions 2l are secured on the side walls 28 of the body of the casing as by means of screws 23. There are four of these brackets, two of which are positioned on one wall 2'8 and the other two on the opposite wall 28 with the brackets on one of said walls being in line with the brackets on the other wall and with the foot portions 27 thereof extending inwardly toward each other. 23 are attached to these foot portions 2l by means of screws 30 which will suspend and hold the tank I4 in. a stationary position.

There is also provided an outer tank 3I (Fig. l) also made rectangular in form and of sheet metal providing a bottom wall 32, side walls 33, 33', and end walls 34 (Fig. 3) respectively. The upper marginal edge of these side and end walls 33, 33 and 34 are also bent inwardly and-downward as at 34 on an incline to the horizontal.

There is attached to the outer side of the bottom wall 32 at each corner thereof an angle bracket 35, the foot portion 36 (see Fig. 3) of which provides a mounting ear having a threaded opening therethrough. The tank 3I is positioned to' enclose the sides and bottom of the tank I4 in spaced relation therewith and is mounted for reciprocal movement laterally of the body of the camera casing as by means ot links 3'I which vare pivotally attached at the upper end thereof .to the The b ars bars 23 as at 33 and pivotally secured at their lower ends to the said ears 36 by means of studs 39. The edges of the tank 3| extend a substantial distance above the Walls I5, I5 of the inner tank I4 and in the direction of relative movement between the tanks to provide a spacing between the Walls I5, 33'and I5', 3-3, a combined distance slightly greater than the distance of movement of the said tank in one direction, the spacing between the walls I4 and 34' is only that necessary for clearance. The tank 3| is oscillated or reciprocally moved by means of an eccentric I which is fixed to a vertically disposed shaft 42 (see Fig. l) journalled in a bearing 33 secured tc the body of the camera casing. Motion is transmitted from a power shaft 44 (Fig. Ll) by means of a pair of engaging, miter gears 45, one of which is attached to the shaft 44 and the other to the shaft 42. The eccentric 4I is in turn connected to the tank 3l by means of a link 46 pivotally attached to the crank 4I by means of a pivot stud 4l and extends therefrom to be pivotally attached to` The openings 2|, 2i" are controlled in the instant disclosure by means of simple, flapper valves The lower'edges of these valves engage against the lower marginal edges about said openings to provide an abutment to engage in the closed position. These valves are also movable oy the pressure of the fluid when in motion to open or close the same, depending upon the direction of motion of said liquid. The arrangement is such as to provide for4 the valves to be open to the out flow of liquidfrom said inner container and to be closed to a return flow of liquid from the outer container. l

The operation of the apparatus will be apparent from the above description, the tank I4l being filled with a print treating liquid to the proper level Vwhich through the openings 2 I, 2 I will flow into the outer tank 3| to nnd its level therein. Upon the oscillation ofthe outer tank (see Fig. 1), the space between the walls 33 and Yi5 `will be decreased by the movement of these two walls toward each other, these walls being substantially parallel to each other and moved in a direction at right angles to the surface of the liquid within the containers. The decreasing distance between these walls I5 and 33 will be at a minimum distance, as lshown in Fig. 2, at the outward limit of the throw of the crank 4I. The liquid contained in the spacing between these two walls will be displaced to be moved upwardly along the walls and pour over the inclined top wall 22 into the tank I4 to flow over such prints which may be deposited in said inner tank I4. The space between the wallsv I5 and 3Il will be increasing as the above movementV occurs, causing a flow of liquid to be had from the inner container through thepassage I9' into the outer container to iillA this increasing` space, which will also cause a downward-movement of the liquid in container I4 to provide a suction action on the print to quickly submerge the same. On the reverse movement of the outer container 3l, the walls I5', 33' will be moved toward each other and displace the liquid between these walls to cause the same to rise and flow over the adjacent inclined top wall 22, the increasing space between theA opposite walls I5, 23 now being lled through the Aopening 2l to complete a cycle of the above- Adescribed operation.

In order to prevent the print from being drawn into the well I8, a plurality of wires 53 are secured in position on the wall portion 20 to extend across Vthe top of the well I8 and a perforated plate 54 is laid upon these wires 53.

I claim: l

l. An apparatus for treating a photographic print comprising an outer container and an inner container within the same for a liquid for treat- -ing a print deposited into said inner container,

said outer container having sidewalls spaced from side walls of said inner container and with the upper edge thereof extending above the upper edge of said inner container walls,l means providing a passage for the new` of liquid from the inner container, into the outer container to ll the space between said containers, means for mounting said containersJ for relative movement therebetween, said movement being in a direction at an angle to the surface of the liquid, and means for relatively moving said containers to displace the said liquid in the space between said containers to overflow from between said containers into the inner container.

2. An apparatus for treating a photographic print comprising an outer container and an inner container within the same for a liquid for treating a print deposited into said inner container, said outer container having side. walls spaced from side walls of said inner container with the upper edge thereof extending above the upper edge of said `inner container, a passage in the lower portion of said inner container for'the flow of liquid therethrough from said inner container into the outer container to ll the space between said containers, means for mounting said containers for relative movement therebetween, said movement being in a direction at an angle to the surface of the liquid, means for relatively moving said containers` to displace the said liquid in the space between said containers to overflow from between said containers into the inner container, and means for blocking said passage to the flow of liquid therethrough from said outercontainer.

3. An apparatus for treating a photographic print comprising an outer container and an inner container within the same for a liquid for treating a print deposited into the inner container, said outer container having side walls spaced from side walls of said inner container with the upper edge thereof extending above the upper edge of said inner container, means for supporting said inner container within saidouter container, a passage from said innercontainer for the flow of liquid therethrough from the inner container into the said outer container to fill the space between said containers on one side thereof, a second passage fromsaidinner container for vthe flow of liquid from the inner container into the said outer container to ll the space between said containers on the side thereof opposite to the said oneside, means f or mounting said containers for relative reciprocal movement therebetween for movement having a direction at an angle to the surface of the liquid, means for relativel;7 moving said containers for reciprocal movement therebetween to decrease the space beween said containers on one side thereof to displace the liquid therein to overflow from between said containers into the inner container and to increase the space between the containers on the said opposite side thereof to receive additional liquid from said inner container, and

means `for blocking saidpassag's to a return ow of liquid therethrough from said outer container into said inner container.

4. An apparatus for treating a photographic print comprising an outer container and an inner container within the same for a liquidfor'tre'ating aprint deposited into the inner container, said outer container having side walls spaced from side walls of said inner container with the upper edge thereof extending above the vupper edge of said inner container, means for support'- ing said inner container within said'louter container, a passage from said inner container for the iiow of liquid therethrough from the inner container into the said outer container to iillthe space between said containers on one sidethereof, a second passage from said inner container for the flow'of liquid from the inner container into the said outer container to ll the space between said containers on the side thereof opposite to the said one side, means for mounting said containers for relative reciprocal movement` therebetween for movement having a direction at an angle to the surface of the liquid, means for relatively moving said containers for reciprocal movement therebetween to decrease the space between said containers on one side thereof to displace the liquid therein to overflow from between said containers into the inner `container and to increase the space between the containers on the said opposite side thereto to receive additional liquid from said inner container, and valve means for blocking said passages to a return flow of liquid therethrough from said outer container into said inner container. 1

5; An apparatus for treating a` photographic print comprising an outer container and an inner container within the same for a liquid for treat-` ing a print deposited into said inner'container, said outer container having side walls `spaced from side walls of said inner container and with the upper `edge thereof extending above the upper edge of said inner container, means .for supporting said inner container within said outer container, a passage in said inner container for the .now of liquid therethrough into said outer 'container to fill the space between said containers, means for blocking said passage to areturn flow of liquid from the outer container into said inner container, means for mounting said .containers for relative reciprocal.` movement therebetween, said movement being in a direction at an angle to the surface of the liquid, means for relatively oscillating said containers to displace the liquid contained in the space between said containers to overflow therefrom into the inner container over the top edge thereof.

6. An apparatus for treating a photographic print comprising an outer container and an inner container within the same for a liquid for treating a print deposited into the inner container, said outer container having sidewalls spaced from side walls at said inner container wall and with the upper edge thereof extending above the upper edge of said inner container walls, means for mounting said outer container for reciprocal movement, said movement being in a. direction at an angle to the surface of the liquid, means for suspending said inner container stationary and in spaced relation within said outer container, a passage in said inner container for the flow of liquid therethrough from said inner container into said outer container to iill the space between said containers, means for reciprocally moving said outer container to displace the liquid 

